My dearest Bri,

This is going to be incredibly cheesy, but I mean every word of it.

There are not enough words to explain how grateful I am for you. I found you while I was struggling, and you didn’t hesitate to help me.

Since day one, you have listened to my rants and my complaints. You didn’t just listen, though.

You understood.

You gave advice when I needed it. Your advice, by the way, is always amazing. You have never steered me in the wrong direction.

You have helped me grow so much as both a person and as a writer. Before coming to Odyssey, I had no idea what AP Style was. Even though it took a few tries for me to figure it out, I learned it, all thanks to you.

You taught me how to be the bigger person in an argument and how to walk away. You taught me to follow my dreams and not worry about anyone else’s opinion.

By the way, I am so proud of you for following your dream and going off to become a substance abuse counselor. I am going to follow mine and head to law school after I get my Bachelor’s degree.

Thank you for being a shoulder to cry on. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. I’m sure that if we lived closer, you would show up at my doorstep with popcorn and a nice hug.

I wouldn’t have been able to decide where I am going to go for college if it wasn’t for you. You helped me make the biggest decision of my life thus far, and I am forever grateful for that.

Thank you for giving me suggestions on where to go out to eat and what to eat. I’m pretty indecisive when it comes to that stuff, and you always help me pick.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to wear many hats in the Aspiring Journalism Professionals community. After having three different executive roles, I better understand how a workplace environment runs.

I’m sorry that I have to leave you, but it’s time for me to move on. I hope that someday our paths will cross again.

I will text you the next time I need fashion, food or boy advice. You always have my back, and I’ll always have yours.

Love always,

Emily